Stocks

Wells Fargo Reports Slight Drop in Profit

Wells Fargo & Co, which has been mired in litigations stemming from a sales scandal, reported a 0.6 percent fall in quarterly profit on Thursday, hit by weaker mortgage banking fees and higher costs.

Citi Profit Rises 17% as Fixed-Income Trading Jumps

Citigroup Inc reported a better-than-expected 17 percent jump in quarterly profit, boosted by strong fixed-income trading as clients adjusted their positions following rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and changes in the forex and credit markets.

SEC Targets Fake Stock News on Financial Websites

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday announced a crackdown against alleged stock promotion schemes in which writers were secretly paid to post hundreds of bullish articles about public companies on financial websites.

Wall Street Dips on Weak Payrolls, Syria Concern

Wall Street's three major indexes edged lower on Friday to end well below session highs after a weaker-than-expected job report, a U.S. missile strike in Syria and comments by a key Federal Reserve official on the Fed's plan to reduce its balance sheet.

Cyber Security: Cisco's Big Bet on the Future

Cisco is betting its charge into the rapidly-growing cyber security industry will reinvigorate its sales as it faces stagnation in the networking equipment business that once propelled it to become one of the of the world’s biggest technology companies.

Stocks Stumble on U.S. Policy Woes

U.S. stock futures and the dollar fell on Monday while Asian markets struggled as President Trump's failure on healthcare reform raised questions about his ability to push through tax cuts and fiscal spending to boost the economy.

Trump Tax Reform Could Boost Small Caps

Though Washington politics over President Donald Trump’s pledge to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act have fueled seesaw action in the U.S. stock market this week, it’s not so much health-care reform Wall Street wants as much as an overhaul of the tax system.

Trump's SEC Pick Clayton Gets Warren Tongue Lashing

President Donald Trump’s pick to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, white collar lawyer Jay Clayton, faced an aggressive line of questioning from Wall Street watchdog Senator Elizabeth Warren during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee Thursday.

Energy Drags Wall Street Lower

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as oil prices dropped to their lowest since November and airlines pulled industrial stocks down as a blizzard hit the U.S. Northeast.

Snap Shares Tumble as Short Sellers Move In

Snap Inc's shares tumbled 12 percent on Tuesday and traders raced to position themselves to cash in on further declines after analysts gave the company a lukewarm reception following its red-hot market debut.

Pharma, Bank Stocks Pull Wall St Lower

U.S. stock prices closed lower on Tuesday as weakness in drug and financial shares sent the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average to their first consecutive sessions of declines in more than a month.

China markets buoyed by optimism over growth outlook

Chinese share benchmarks rose Monday on optimism about the economic outlook after the annual session of the National People's Congress opened in Beijing, while Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index drooped following North Korea's launch of missiles into seas near Japan.

Snapchat IPO: Wall Street Cashes In, Average Investors Left Out

Wall Street is buzzing about Snapchat’s wildly successful trading debut, which bested Facebook’s, Alibaba’s and Google’s. At the outset of trading Thursday, the stock jumped more than 40 percent to $24 a share, no thanks to Main Street investors who were largely left out of the action.

Dow Notches Seventh Straight Record

The Dow Jones Industrial Average barely reached a seventh straight record high on Friday and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also closed at a record as gains in Kraft Heinz helped offset selling in energy stocks.

Wendy's Earnings, Sales Fall

Wendy's reported declining earnings and sales in the fourth quarter as the company shed company-operated stores in favor of franchise-operated restaurants.

Equity Futures Flat Ahead of Data Blast

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday, ahead of a blast of economic data and a day after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen painted a largely upbeat picture of the economy.

Sears Says to Cut $1B in Costs, Shares Surge

Beleaguered retailer Sears Holdings Corp said on Friday it would cut costs by $1 billion and reduce debt and pension obligations by at least $1.5 billion this year, sending its shares soaring as much as 40 percent.

Activision Blizzard answers 'Call of Duty' with big 4Q

Activision Blizzard Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit climbed 60 percent to $254 million as more people embraced a video game line-up that includes "Call of Duty, "Candy Crush," and "World of Warcraft" during the holiday season.

Currency Losses Hit GM Fourth Quarter Profits

General Motors Co on Tuesday said fourth quarter net income fell to $1.19 a share, factoring out one-time items, in part because of $500 million in foreign exchange losses, and the company forecast 2017 profits per share would be flat to slightly up from 2016.

Energy Stocks Drag Wall Street Lower

U.S. stocks fell on Monday, led lower by the energy sector as oil prices slumped, amid a pause in quarterly earnings reports and uncertainty over President Donald Trump's economic policies.

Banks, Jobs Data Send Wall Street Higher

U.S. stocks climbed on Friday, with the S&P 500 closing just short of a record high, boosted by gains in financial shares as President Donald Trump moved ahead with deregulation action and by a strong payrolls report.

Merck's 4Q Revenue Falls Short

Merck's quarterly revenue narrowly missed Wall Street expectations, hurt by lower-than-expected sales of its key immuno-oncology drug, Keytruda, and its diabetes medicines.

Cigna's Profit Beats Estimates

Cigna, which is awaiting a ruling on the U.S. government's lawsuit to block its acquisition by Anthem, reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by strength in its commercial business.

Shell Misses Fourth-Quarter Estimates

Royal Dutch Shell's profits were lower than forecast in the last quarter of 2016 due to an unexpected charge relating to foreign exchange moves, but it was still ahead of its larger U.S. rival Exxon Mobil.

U.S. Auto Sales Cool in January

General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. posted declines in January auto sales amid what is expected to be a broader cooling in demand following brisk sales in the prior month that is creating a glut on dealer lots.

Under Armour Shares Slump on Earnings Miss

Sportswear maker Under Armour Inc reported lower-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue, hurt by stiff competition and slowing growth in North America, and the company's shares plunged before the bell.

Pfizer 4Q Profit Misses Estimates

Pfizer, which closed its $14 billion acquisition of Medivation in September, reported a lower-than-expected profit, hit by lower demand for products set to go off patent.

United Parcel's 4Q Results Fall Short

United Parcel reported an adjusted 4Q profit of $1.63 per share, missing the estimate for $1.69. Revenue for the package delivery company came in at $16.93 billion. The estimate was for $17 billion.

Shares in Asia fall on uncertainty over US immigration flap

Most financial markets were closed in Asia on Monday for lunar new year holidays, but shares fell in Japan and Australia on uncertainty over the potential impact of President Donald Trump's travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries and other immigration actions.

Colgate-Palmolive 4Q Revenue Falls Short

Colgate-Palmolive reported an adjusted 4Q profit of $0.75 per share, topping, missing the estimate for $0.75. Revenue for the company came in at $3.72 billion, missing the estimate for $3.86 billion

Ford Sees Lower 2017 Profits

Ford Motor reported a fourth-quarter loss, reflecting pension accounting and write downs for abandoning a planned factory in Mexico, and reaffirmed its forecast that profits for 2017 would be lower.

Fiat Chrysler's 4Q Profit Doubles

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reported a doubling of its fourth-quarter profit partly through avoiding a repeat of extra costs incurred to adjust production in the U.S. at the end of the previous year.

Dow Races Past 20K in Reinvigorated Trump Rally

After a brief hiatus, the Dow Jones Industrial Average resumed its march toward 20000, crossing the elusive milestone on Wednesday as President Donald Trump demonstrates his seriousness about fulfilling campaign promises of lower taxes, less regulation, and more fiscal spending.

DuPont Reports 4Q Profit

Chemical and seed producer DuPont <DD.N> reported a quarterly profit, compared with a loss a year earlier when the company booked charges of $770 million.

Fiat Chrysler Shares Tank After EPA Cheating Accusations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday accused Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV of illegally using hidden software that allowed significant excess diesel emissions, the result of a probe that stemmed from regulators' investigation of rival Volkswagen AG.

Delta Air Profit Falls 36.5%

Delta Air Lines on Thursday reported a 36.5 percent decline in fourth-quarter profit and forecast passenger unit revenue, a closely watched metric, to be flat to up 2 percent in early 2017.

Dow's March to 20K Pauses Amid Drop in Oil Prices

Declines in financial and energy companies weighed on Wall Street on Monday, stalling the Dow's pursuit of 20,000, while the Nasdaq hit a record intraday high on gains in technology stocks and a string of deals in the health sector.

After Coming Within One Point, Dow Misses 20K

The Dow jumped to an all-time high on Friday and is on the brink of the key 20,000-point threshold after over a month of teasing. The fresh catalyst came after the December jobs report showed wages popped in 2016, bolstering hopes for stronger economic growth in the new year.

Macy's Closing Stores, Cutting 10,100 Jobs

Macy's Inc. outlined restructuring plans Wednesday that will eliminate more than 10,000 jobs at the struggling department store giant as it closes about 63 stores this spring and looks to cut additional costs.

Discretionary Stocks Lift Wall St, Fed Minutes Awaited

Wall Street extended its gains into the second trading day of the new year, supported by consumer discretionary stocks, as investors awaited minutes of the Federal Reserve's December meeting where it raised interest rates.

Stocks Retrace Gains, but Some Investors Weary

Wall Street rose on Tuesday as a post-election rally extended into the new year, even as some investors warned they need to see results from President-elect Donald Trump before pushing stock prices significantly higher.

Best & Worst ETF Performers of 2016

After a remarkable surge since Donald Trump’s presidential election win that has helped the markets extend into the 9th year of its bull rally, U.S. equities and stock exchange traded funds are ending 2016 with a whimper.

Energy companies and banks led rally on S&P 500 in 2016

In 2016, the Standard & Poor's 500 index jumped 10 percent and bounced back from a flat result the year before, and energy companies and banks made some of the largest gains as investors bet on a stronger economy that will lead to more lending and spending.

Planning for a Perfect for Certain

For the days leading up to 2017, I would encourage investors to drop the 'investment resolutions' and instead formally state an investment 'mission’s statement.' Time spent in self-dialogue and self-rhetoric should help clearly define your investment purpose and may go a long way in exposing your struggles to remain on track.

Industrials Keep Dow Away from 20,000

U.S. stocks pared some gains in afternoon trading on Tuesday, pulling the Dow Jones Industrial Average away from the elusive 20,000 mark as losses in industrials slightly offset gains in technology and financial shares.

FedEx Shares Fall on Profit Miss

Package delivery company FedEx on Tuesday reported a higher quarterly net profit, boosted by revenue growth across all business units but results lagged Wall Street expectations.

Wall St Loses Ground as Tech Stocks Weigh

U.S. stocks fell on Friday, weighed by a more than 4 percent drop in Oracle shares, while recently battered stocks in the real estate and utilities sectors posted the largest gains.

Dollar, Bond Yields Advance on Fed Rate Hike

The dollar hit a 14-year high and government bond yields rose broadly on Thursday, extending gains from a day earlier when the Federal Reserve hiked U.S. interest rates and signaled increases would follow at a faster pace next year.

Stocks Rally, Notch 3% Gains for the Week

U.S stocks followed Europe higher on Friday as investors piled in on the post-Trump-election rally while the euro weakened against the dollar as investors continued to digest the European Central Bank’s Thursday decision to extend economic stimulus.

Bart Chilton: Trump is now the Deal-Maker-in-Chief

As President-elect Donald Trump looks to eliminate wasteful regulation and pushes for better deals with major U.S. corporations, a battle is brewing between free market economists and others who strive for a level economic playing field.

Dow, S&P Hit Highs; Trump Comment Hammers Drug Stocks

Wall Street surged on Wednesday, with the Dow industrials and S&P 500 hitting fresh records, as equities continued their march upward after the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, and a new high for transportation stocks added to the bullish tone.

Toll Brothers Revenue Jumps 29.1%

U.S. luxury homes builder Toll Brothers Inc reported a 29.1 percent rise in quarterly revenue, boosted by higher home sales and an increase in average selling prices.

Wall Street Edges Lower as Banks Lose Steam

U.S. stocks edged lower on Friday after a payrolls report did little to alter expectations for an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve this month and bank stocks cooled for a second straight session.

Tech Stocks Weigh on S&P, Nasdaq

Losses in technology stocks dragged down the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 on Thursday, while gains in bank and energy shares propped up the Dow.

The November Wall Street Never Saw Coming

It's been a wild month for Wall Street as unexpected events like Donald Trump's election, a sudden bond selloff, and higher odds of a Federal Reserve rate hike, have forced investors to reconsider their positions.

Ahead of the Bell: US consumer confidence

The Conference Board releases its November report on U.S. consumer confidence at 10 a.m. Eastern Tuesday REBOUND: Economists believe business group's consumer confidence index will bounce back to 100.1 this month after slipping to 98.6 in October.

S&P Dips with Health Care Shares, Dow Edges Up

The S&P 500 inched lower on Wednesday afternoon, hurt by declines in Eli Lilly and other healthcare shares, while the Dow edged higher along with industrial stocks in light trading ahead of a U.S. holiday.

Planes, Trains and Autos Riding Higher

Stocks from financials to health care helped fuel the postelection rally. But investors also are putting their money on the shares of train, truck and shipping companies, betting on an acceleration in U.S. economic growth.

Wal-Mart Sales Edge Up, Though Profit Falls

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. continued to draw more shoppers to its U.S. stores and expanded online sales, but the pace of its growth slowed and investment weighed on its quarterly profits.

Yellen: 'Fully My Intention to Serve Out Term'

In Yellen's first remarks since the election of Donald Trump as the next president, the Fed chair indicated little had yet changed as a result of the Nov. 8 outcome. She said she intends to serve out her term, which ends in 2018, and indicated the Fed remains on track to raise rates at its meeting next month.

Asia Shares Slip as Oil Slides

A drop in oil prices weighed on Asia stocks on Thursday, ahead of inflation, jobs and exports data expected from the U.S. and testimony from Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen on the economic outlook to Congress later in the day.

Dollar Index Surges to 14-Year High

The dollar soared to its highest since April 2003 against a basket of currencies on Wednesday, reaching its strongest in a year against the euro as major banks and investors debated the possibility of another move toward euro-dollar parity.

Dow Flirts With Fresh Record As Stock-market Gains Firm

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday as the market's postelection updraft appeared set to continue, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average trying to keep its grip on late-session gains after six winning sessions in a row and three straight record closes.

10-Year Treasury Yield Reaches Highest Level in a Year

The bond-market selloff, the latest leg of which began last week after Republican Donald Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the U.S. presidential election, persisted on Monday, despite weak retail and output figures out of China, which suggested a pause in growth momentum in the world's second-largest economy.

Here's Why Financials Are Rallying

Several big-name hedge fund investors remained significantly underweight financial stocks at the end of the third quarter, helping sow the seeds of the rally in bank shares following Donald Trump's surprising victory in the U.S. presidential race.

Samsung to Buy Auto-Parts Supplier Harman for $8 Billion

The South Korean smartphone maker said Monday that it would buy U.S. auto-parts supplier Harman International Industries Inc., based in Stamford, Conn., for $8 billion in an all-cash deal that instantly makes Samsung a major player in the world of automotive technology.

Oil Prices Under Pressure from Supply Concerns

Oil prices were under pressure again Monday, with the brief stability in global markets that followed the U.S. presidential election replaced by the prior narrative of supply and demand worries.

Wall Street Set to Resume its Post-Election Rally

Wall Street was set to resume its post-election rally on Monday, with stock futures indicating a new closing record for the Dow industrials, on continued hopes that the policies of President-elect Donald Trump will deliver strong economic growth.

Financials Poised to Win ‘Bigly’ Under Trump

Bank stocks have already seen big gains since Donald Trump’s election victory, but that may be just a small sign of what is to come for banks under a Trump administration, said Rafferty Capital Markets Banking Analyst Dick Bove.

Macy's 3Q Earnings Miss Expectations

Macy's reported a 4.2 percent fall in third-quarter sales, and said it had formed a partnership with asset manager Brookfield Asset Management to enhance the value of its real estate.

Markets Rise as Investors Buy Into Trump

Stocks and commodities leapt higher Thursday while bonds remained under pressure as investors bet that a Donald Trump presidency could mean more fiscal stimulus, lower corporate taxes and higher interest rates.

Dismal year for Hertz grows more dismal still

Hertz shares plunged more than 30 percent in Tuesday trading and its rival, Avis, fell sharply after the company slashed its expectations for all of 2016 in what had already been a dismal year in the car rental business.

CVS Cuts Profit Forecast, Shares Fall

Drugstore chain CVS Health cut its 2016 adjusted earnings forecast, citing slowing prescription growth and pharmacy network changes that will cause retail prescriptions to begin migrating out of its pharmacies this quarter.

Asian shares surge as FBI deciding not to charge Clinton

Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Monday after FBI Director James Comey told lawmakers during the weekend that the bureau had found no evidence to warrant criminal charges against presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in a trove of newly-discovered emails.

Stock Futures Flat as Election Race Tightens

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday due to rising uncertainty over next week's presidential election and as investors awaited the outcome of the Federal Reserve's meeting later in the day.

Broadcom to Buy Brocade for $5.5B

Chipmaker Broadcom said on Wednesday it would buy network gear maker Brocade Communications for $5.5 billion in cash, to expand its fiber channel and storage businesses.

Gannett gives up on Tronc

Gannett is walking away from its takeover attempt at Tronc, the publisher of the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and other major dailies.

Kellogg's Quarterly Sales Fall 2.3%

Corn Flakes maker Kellogg posted the seventh straight drop in quarterly sales citing weak demand for cereal in the United States, a challenging UK market and "portfolio transformations that have taken longer than anticipated to execute."

Stocks Flat LIne as Traders Eye Clinton Probe, GDP

Wall Street fell broadly on Friday, with U.S. stocks and the dollar lower after the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it would probe additional emails related to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email server while secretary of state.

Equity Futures Higher as GDP Grows 2.9%

U.S. futures inched higher Friday while shares in Europe mostly fell, as investors digested the latest batch of corporate earnings and a higher-than-expected reading on the health of the U.S. economy.

Aetna's 3Q Earnings Rise 8%

Aetna, No. 3 U.S. health insurer, reported an 8 percent rise in quarterly profit as memberships grew in its government business, which sells Medicaid and Medicare plans.

Nokia Posts Third-Quarter Loss

Nokia reported a quarterly net loss for the third time in a row amid sluggish mobile-network sales and charges related to its recent acquisition of French rival Alcatel-Lucent.

Stocks Mixed as Apple Shares Slip

Apple Inc's shares slipped as much as 4 percent after the company said it was struggling to keep up with demand for its large-screen, higher-margin iPhone 7 Plus, potentially reducing sales and profits in the Christmas shopping period.

Edwards Lifesciences meets 3Q profit forecasts

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. on Tuesday reported worse-than-expected sales for the third quarter and forecast another shortfall in the fourth quarter, sending its shares down in after-hours trading.

Stocks Slip on 3Q Earnings Results

U.S. stocks slipped from two-week highs on Tuesday as results and outlooks from companies in various sectors, including housing and consumer products, failed to live up to expectations.

TD Ameritrade to buy Scottrade in $4B cash-and-stock deal

Online brokerage TD Ameritrade is buying Scottrade in a $4 billion cash-and-stock deal that would tie up two major players in the day trading industry during an era when an increasingly large number of investors are choosing index funds over stock picking.

Microsoft Shares Hit All-Time High

Shares of Microsoft Corp. jumped to an all-time high Friday in the wake of a positive earnings report, nearly 17 years after setting its previous high-water mark in the heyday of the dot-com boom.

These 3 Stocks Just Raised Their Dividends

What do a recreational vehicle maker, a paper and pulp multinational, and an old-line asset management company have in common? That's right: They all hiked their payouts last week.

Remembering Wall Street's Black Monday

Accept that “Black Monday’s” will one day come again.Embrace your severe limitation at forecasting the next event and instead prepare for such with appropriate and proven investing insurance strategies.

Wall Street Rallies on Earnings Optimism

Wall Street advanced on Tuesday to give the S&P 500 its best day this month on the heels of solid earnings reports from names such as UnitedHealth and Netflix that put corporate profits on track to snap a four-quarter streak of declines.

Harley-Davidson to Reorganize, Reduce Workforce

Harley-Davidson Inc, facing falling motorcycle sales around the world, said on Tuesday it plans to streamline its operations, reorganize and reduce its workforce during the fourth quarter in a move that will cost the company $20 million to $25 million.

Caterpillar CEO to retire next year

Caterpillar says CEO Doug Oberhelman will retire from the company next year and will be replaced with Jim Umpleby, an executive who has worked at the company for more than three decades.

Stocks Steady After Fed Minutes

The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones industrial average indexes ended Wednesday's session with slight gains as expectations for timing on a rate hike timing were largely unchanged after minutes from the most recent meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Alcoa Reports Worse-Than-Expected Quarter

Alcoa, less than a month away from splitting itself in two, reported worse-than-expected earnings growth in the latest quarter as lower alumina pricing and changes to aerospace delivery schedules dented revenue.

Hard Brexit Date Rattles Markets

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as investors fretted about Britain's exit from the European Union and the prospect of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike in coming months.

Stocks Jump as Deutsche Bank Steadies

Stock prices across major markets rose on Friday, while the euro stabilized as Deutsche Bank's shares recovered from record lows on a report it is close to a deal to reduce a massive U.S. settlement over charges related to selling toxic mortgage bonds.

Markets Rally on OPEC Deal

Wall Street moved higher on Wednesday after an OPEC agreement to limit crude output fueled a rally in oil and more than offset nervousness about a tight race for the U.S. presidency.

U.S. Stocks Rebound; Apple Soars On Upgrade

U.S. stocks staged a rebound Wednesday, in part thanks to a rally in Apple Inc. shares, while the main indexes were on track to recoup some of the steep losses they suffered during the previous session.

How to Break the S&P 500's Fall

With market moves picking up after the summer lull, the stock market declined as investors position for a potential interest rate hike following next week's Federal Reserve meeting.

Here's Why Oil Fell Three Percent Today

Oil prices settled down as much as 3 percent on Tuesday after forecasts from producer group OPEC and a leading energy market body focused on consumers indicated a global crude supply glut could persist into next year.

Stocks Head For Strongest Session Since July

U.S. stock indexes were higher on Monday after Federal Reserve Board Governor Lael Brainard stuck to her dovish stance on interest rates, saying the central bank must be cautious in removing monetary stimulus too quickly.

Global Bonds, Stocks Lashed as Easy-Money Policy Is Seen at Limit

As bond yields across markets hit multi-month highs for a second session on Monday, global investors were harshly reminded that central banks may be out of both ammunition and ideas to stimulate economies - eight years after the global financial crisis provoked an unprecedented flood of central bank liquidity to keep markets afloat.

Kroger's Profit Falls 11.5%

Kroger, the biggest U.S. supermarket company, reported an 11.5 percent fall in quarterly profit, largely hurt by charges related to restructuring of some pension obligations.

Stocks Rise Tepidly Amid Weak ISM Report

U.S. stocks Tuesday traded tepidly higher, after wavering between small gains and losses, as investors digested a weak services-sector report, which might stay the Federal Reserve's hand as it considers raising interest rates.

Campbell's 4Q Profit Falls Short

Campbell Soup, the world's largest soupmaker, reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly profit and said it was disappointed with the performance of its Campbell Fresh business, which sells fresh and organic foods.

Dollar General's Sales Miss Estimates

Discount retailer Dollar General Corp reported lower-than-expected quarterly sales, hurt by lower food prices, growing competition and as its low-income customer base was hurt by several states reducing food stamp coverage.

Dull Markets Can be a Hazard for Investors

Over-reading or over-thinking what the market might be “saying” defiles the scenery, there is so much clamoring for investors’ attention and basing an investment thesis upon scraps of isolated information is foolhardy.

Stocks Reverse Early Losses

U.S. stocks were lower on Wednesday as investors held off from making big bets ahead of the release of the minutes of the Federal Reserve's July policy meeting.

Aerie Boosts American Eagle's Sales

Teen apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters Inc reported a bigger-than-expected rise in quarterly comparable sales, largely due to strong demand for its Aerie line of lingerie and personal care products.

TJX's Comp Sales Beat Expectations

TJX, the operator of off-price retail chains T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, reported a bigger-than-expected increase in quarterly comparable sales as more bargain-hungry shoppers visited its stores.

Summer Clothing Heats Up Kohl's

Kohl's reported better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by better control over inventories and warm weather that boosted sales of summer clothes and accessories.

Shake Shack Restaurant Sales Disappoint, Stock Drops

Shake Shack Inc, known for indulgent antibiotic-free hamburgers, crinkle-cut fries and frozen custard shakes, on Wednesday reported a weaker-than-expected rise in quarterly sales at established restaurants.

Kellogg's Quarterly Sales Fall 6.6%

Kellogg's quarterly sales dropped 6.6 percent, missing analysts' estimates, as demand slid further for its breakfast foods and snacks, which include Corn Flakes and Froot Loops.

Toyota Cuts Operating Profit Forecast

Toyota Motor cut its full-year forecast for operating profit, expecting it to fall 44 percent from a year ago as the Japanese automaker expects to take a bigger hit from a stronger yen.

Why Trump 'Got Out' of the Stock Market

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says he’s never been a big investor, but when it comes to putting his money in U.S. stocks he told the FOX Business Network’s Stuart Varney, “I don’t like a lot of things that I see.”

Chevron Reports 2Q Loss

Dow component Chevron reported a 2Q loss of $0.78 per share. Wall Street was expecting a profit of $0.32. Revenue for the company came in at $29.28 billion, topping the estimate for $28.54 billion

Ford Shares Fall on Profit Miss

Ford Motor reported second quarter profit that was weaker than expected as the company said sales in the United States and China did not match company expectations.

Shell Misses Estimates as Earnings Plunge 70%

Royal Dutch Shell reported a more than 70 percent fall in quarterly profit on Thursday, well below analyst estimates, blaming weak oil prices, poor refining profits and higher charges resulting from its $54 billion acquisition of BG Group.

Nintendo in Wider-Than-Expected 1Q Loss

Japan's Nintendo booked an operating loss in the first quarter, hurt by unfavorable currency rates although hopes for long-term growth are running high on the worldwide success of Pokemon GO.

3M's Sales Miss; Lowers Forecast

3M, the maker of Scotch tape and Post-it notes, reported lower-than-expected quarterly net sales and cut its full-year sales forecast, citing slow global economic growth.

United Technologies Revenue Climbs

United Technologies boosted the lower end of its full-year sales and revenue forecasts Tuesday as the company said revenue climbed in its latest quarter, though profit fell.

Texas Instruments Forecasts Strong 3Q

Texas Instruments forecast revenue and profit for the current quarter largely above analysts' estimates, helped by strong demand for its chips used in the automotive, industrial and communications markets.

BP Misses Quarterly Profit Expectations

British oil major BP reported a lower than expected profit for the second quarter due to weak refining margins and oil prices, prompting another cut to its 2016 investment budget to below $17 billion.

GM's Profit More Than Doubles

General Motors, bolstered by strong truck and SUV demand in its core market, posted a 157% increase in net profit in the second quarter compared with the same period a year ago.

Travelers Operating Earnings Fall 20%

Travelers said its second-quarter operating earnings fell 20%, depressed by claims from catastrophes such as the Fort McMurray wildfires in Alberta, Canada, and hail storms in various parts of the U.S.

Dunkin' Brands 2Q Revenue Rises 2.3%

Dunkin' Brands quarterly sales rose 2.3 percent as demand increased for its flavored iced coffee and it benefited from a new feature on its app that allows customers to quickly place and take out orders.

Microsoft Powers Dow, S&P to Fresh Records

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday, with the Dow and the S&P 500 hitting fresh records, as Microsoft's strong results reinforced optimism about the health of quarterly earnings.

Wells Fargo's 2Q Earnings Slip

Wells Fargo said its second-quarter profit fell as the nation's third-largest bank by assets continued to deal with low interest rates that sap lenders' profitability

Bank Earnings Loom Large as Stocks Near Record

The focus on Wall Street will shift to corporate earnings next week after a strong June jobs report on Friday gave investors confidence that the U.S. economy was on stable footing and left the S&P 500 within a whisper of a new closing record high.

Seek Don't Hide

There is no knowing without believing, and believing is the way to knowing... It’s hard to believe, but the S&P 500 remains relatively flat week-to-date, month-to-date, quarter-to-date, year-to-date, and really has been on auto-pilot since the end of 2014!

Oil Declines in Post-'Brexit' Hangover

Oil prices fell Monday with a stronger dollar and haven-seeking investors still pushing crude into a retreat after Friday's unexpected choice from U.K. voters to leave the European Union.

Lew Sees no Financial Crisis From Brexit

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Monday said he sees no signs of a financial crisis arising from Britain's decision last week to leave the European Union, although the result does present additional 'headwinds' for the U.S. economy.

Wall St Marches Ahead as Brexit Seen Unlikely

The three major U.S. stock indexes rose about 1 percent each to record their biggest percentage gains in a month as investors grew confident that Britain would choose to remain in the European Union in Thursday's referendum.

More Risk Could Lead to More Economic Reward

In the aftermath of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, risk became a four-letter word U.S. regulators worked diligently to squash, but one man says it's a practice critical to reigniting economic growth.

Wall Street Braces for Brexit

U.S. equity markets treaded water during Friday’s session, but a look under the hood showed just how concerned investors across the world are ahead of a key vote in Britain next week.

Investors Eye Outcome of Next Week's Brexit Vote

U.S. equity markets on Friday took a bit of a breather from the back and forth swings of the week as investors braced for next Thursday’s so-called Brexit vote in which the United Kingdom will decide whether it will retain or sever its membership in the European Union.

Beijing Halts Sales of iPhone 6

Beijing's intellectual property regulator has ordered Apple Inc. to stop sales of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the city, ruling that the design is too similar to a Chinese phone, in another setback for the company in a key overseas market.

A Primer on Market Risk

The investor class seems to be held hostage – mostly reluctant to peer out too far into the swirling headwinds and content to pitter-patter around the feather-bed of being too afraid or not afraid enough.

A New Book That Will Make You Sound Smart

Book review: Ever feel like a fish out of water at an office cocktail party when discussing the economy, or when someone brings up the gold standard? Thanks to Imogen Lloyd Webber, there’s now a new book that will rescue you from such awkward situations.

Sharp Job-Growth Slowdown Creates Fed Conundrum

The labor market, which for weeks was heralded as one of the bright spots in the U.S. economy, saw a sharp slowdown in job creation in May, delivering a significant downside surprise to both Wall Street and the Federal Reserve.

May Jobs Report Unlikely to Knock Fed Off Course

With the U.S. economy showing signs of improvement from a weak start to the year, and equity markets having recovered significant first-quarter losses, the Federal Reserve appears primed to raise interest rates this summer for the first time since December.

Wall Street Lower as Consumer Stocks Slip

U.S. stocks were lower in early afternoon trading on Tuesday following a drop in consumer stocks, but the three major indexes were on track to end higher for May, as investors mulled over economic data for clues regarding the timing of a rate hike.

Costco's Third-Quarter Sales Stagnate

Costco Wholesale said its sales stagnated in its third quarter, and the bulk seller also gave investors a glimpse into how much a wage increase for its store workers could affect its bottom line.

Best Buy Forecasts Profit Miss, CFO to Step Down

Best Buy forecast current-quarter profit below analysts' estimates, partly due to a disruption in supply of some high-margin products after an earthquake in Japan, and the company said its chief financial officer was stepping down.

Wal-Mart Beats Expectations; Stock Jumps

Wal-Mart Stores Inc on Thursday reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit as increased drug prices and solid demand for basic apparel items boosted sales, and its shares jumped more than 7 percent.

Fed Flexes Muscle, June Rate Hike Still in Play

Just as investors got comfortable with the idea that the Federal Reserve would stand firm on interest rates in June, minutes from the central bank’s April meeting show a rate hike next month is still very much an option.

Rate Hike Fear Drags Down Stocks

A global gauge of stocks fell on Tuesday, weighed down by Wall Street on concerns that strong U.S. inflation data could bring closer an expected rate hike from the Federal Reserve.

Energy And Tech Shares Lead U.S. Stock Rally

U.S. stocks rose solidly on Monday, rebounding after three straight weeks of declines, as a surge in oil prices and a rally in tech stocks overshadowed weaker-than-expected manufacturing data from New York region.

Deep Pocketed Investors Seek for Answers at SALT

As some of the world’s wealthiest investors touched down in Las Vegas, Nevada to attend the annual SALT conference they were greeted with sharp Wall Street selloff which clipped 217 points off the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Gap Shares Plummet on Disappointing Spring

Shares of Gap Inc slumped 13 percent to a more than four-year low on Tuesday after fewer shoppers visiting the company's stores in the key spring season resulted in a steep decline in comparable-store sales.

Alibaba Revenue Better Than Expected

Alibaba Group Holding on Thursday reported a better-than-expected surge in revenue in the final quarter of the year as the Chinese e-commerce giant continued to add users and drive mobile sales.

Merck 1Q Profit Beats, Raises Forecast

Dow component Merck reported an adjusted 1Q profit of $0.89 per share, topping the estimate for $0.85. Revenue for the drugmaker came in at $9.3 billion, falling short of the estimate for $9.46 billion.

Time Warner 1Q Revenue Boosted by Turner, HBO

Time Warner, the owner of CNN and Cartoon Network, reported a slightly higher-than-expected 2.5 percent rise in quarterly revenue as subscription revenue rose at its Turner Broadcasting unit and cable channel Home Box Office.

Shell Profit Falls But Beats Forecasts

Royal Dutch Shell said Wednesday it is continuing to hammer down costs and spending as the company moves to integrate its roughly $50 billion acquisition of BG Group in the midst of a historic oil price slump.

Buffett Defends Berkshire's Investments

Warren Buffett on Saturday vigorously defended Berkshire Hathaway's large, long-standing investment in Coca-Cola Co, rejecting critics who say the company's sugary drinks harm people's health.

El-Erian: Low Growth is Taking a Major Toll

The low-growth global economic environment is beginning to take its toll on the financial market, Allianz Chief Economic Advisor Mohamed El-Erian said in a Friday morning interview with FOX Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo.

Wall St Drops After BOJ Decision; Apple Weighs

U.S. stocks closed down on Thursday as the Bank of Japan's shocking call to cap monetary stimulus continued to rattle investors while a late day decline in Apple shares on remarks from billionaire investor Carl Icahn added to selling pressure.

Sony Reports Biggest FY Profit in 8 Years

Japanese electronics maker Sony on Thursday reported its biggest annual operating profit since fiscal 2007 due to cost cuts in its struggling smartphone business and brisk demand for PlayStation 4 videogames.

Boeing's 1Q Profit Hit by Tanker Charge

Dow component Boeing reported an adjusted 1Q profit of $1.74 per share, missing the estimate for $1.82. Revenue for the aerospace company came in at $22.6 billion, beating the estimate for $21.4 billion.

Twitter Shares Plunge After 1Q Revenue Miss

Twitter disappointed investors yet again with first-quarter results that showed stagnant revenue growth as the microblogging service struggles to grab new users amid efforts to improve its complicated interface with several new features.

Barclays 1Q Profit Falls 33%

Barclays reported a worse than expected 33 percent slump in pretax profits for the first three months of the year, as the lender followed its U.S. peers in reporting falling investment banking revenues in a weak global market environment.

P&G Posts 7% Drop in Quarterly Sales

Dow component Procter & Gamble reported a 3Q profit of $0.86 per share, topping the estimate for $0.82. Revenue for the company came in at $15.8 billion, matching Wall Street expectations.

Post-It Notes Maker 3M's Sales Fall 2.2%

Diversified manufacturer 3M Co reported a 2.2 percent fall in quarterly revenue as sluggish economic growth in emerging markets including China hurt demand and a strong dollar eroded the value of sales from outside the United States.

Emerging Market ETFs Are Turning Around

The developing markets have been falling behind developed stocks for the past few years, but as once outperforming plays grow long in the tooth, investors are taking a second look at the more cheaply valued emerging market exchange traded funds.

Honeywell's 1Q Profit Rises 6.3%

Honeywell International posted a 6.3 percent rise in quarterly profit, helped by higher sales in its automation and climate control systems division, and the company raised the low end of its full-year earnings forecast.

3 Dividend Stocks for Retirees

Retirees who are eager to boost the income from their portfolios have been turning away from low-yielding government bonds and toward higher-yielding stocks.

Down 41%: Is Sarepta Therapeutics Worth the Risk?

Source: Pixabay What : In what's turned into a recurring theme, shares of the clinical-stage biotech Sarepta Therapeutics are getting hammered yet again on negative regulatory news foreteplirsen, its experimental Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) drug.

Travelers Reports Mixed 1Q Results

Property and casualty insurer Travelers reported a 17 percent fall in quarterly net profit on Thursday as catastrophe losses nearly doubled, mainly due to hail storms in Texas in late March.

Stocks Struggle to Hold 2016 Highs

U.S. stocks on Wednesday were dipping in and out of negative territory after the opening bell amid a fresh drop in oil prices and weaker-than-expected earnings from companies such as Coca-Cola and Intel.

Coca-Cola 1Q Sales Fall 4%

Dow component Coca-Cola reported an adjusted 1Q profit of $0.45 per share, topping the estimate for $0.44. Revenue for the beverage giant came in at $10.28 billion, matching the Wall Street estimate.

Intel to Cut 12,000 Jobs

Intel said it would cut 11% of its workforce, as it refocuses on making microchips that power data centers and Internet-connected devices and away from the declining personal computer industry it helped found.

Seventy Seven Energy Plans to File for Bankruptcy

Oil-field services provider Seventy Seven Energy Inc. said Tuesday that it plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and that it has reached a restructuring agreement with many of its lenders, becoming the latest casualty of the energy-price downturn.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals' Stock in 4 Charts

Image source: Pixabay , public domain For this Fool, the rise and fall of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (NYSE: VRX) is the most fascinating business story of 2015 -- and there are still a few chapters yet to be written.

5 Stocks to Supplement Your Social Security Benefits

SOURCE: FLICKR USER SENIORLIVING.ORG Millions of Americans rely heavily on Social Security income to cover their monthly expenses and that's because the vast majority of Americans' retirement accounts aren't big enough to kick off a substantial amount of retirement income.

3 Stocks That Could Double Your Money

Source: Pixabay Although healthcare stocks have run into troubled waters in 2016, this group as a whole still holds immense potential for investors that can tolerate some short-term volatility.

Morgan Stanley Profit Slumps 54.4%

Morgan Stanley reported a 1Q profit of $0.55 per share, topping the estimate for $0.46. Revenue for the bank came in at $7.8 billion, just short of the estimate for $7.86 billion

NetFlix Kicks Off a Big Week for Tech ETFs

Technology exchange traded fund investors will be watching the technology sector as some of the major players begin revealing their first quarter results this week, with all eyes on Netflix (Nasdaq:NFLX) Monday.

Stocks to Watch BAC, VRX, PNC

Among the companies with shares expected to trade actively in Thursday's session are Bank of America Corp., Valeant and PNC Financial Services Group Inc.

3 Ways to Grow Your Tax Refund

If you have received a tax refund or are expecting a check from Uncle Sam this year, instead of blowing it in one place, consider adding a little padding to your nest egg for your retirement. Here are strategies.

Delta Air Profit Tops Expectations

Delta Air Lines on Thursday reported a first-quarter profit above analysts' expectations and forecast a smaller decline in passenger unit revenue for the spring, promising to change its fall flight capacity if necessary to improve the measure.

BlackRock's 1Q Profit Falls 20%

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, said on Thursday its profit fell about 20 percent during a first quarter that featured a dramatic reversal for markets.

Bank of America's 1Q EPS Beats Estimate

Bank of America, the No. 2 U.S. bank by assets, reported an 18 percent slide in quarterly profit on Thursday as its trading business was hit by concerns about a global economic slowdown and uncertainty about U.S. interest rates.

My 4 Biggest Stock Holdings

Would you go all in on these four stocks? Image source: Pixabay Some might call this crazy, but when you take my family's top four stock holdings and put them together, they account for over half of all of our stock investments.

JPMorgan Chase 1Q Earnings Top Estimates

JPMorgan Chase, the biggest U.S. bank by assets, reported a 6.7 percent drop in quarterly profit as costs to cover possible sour loans to troubled shale oil companies rose and revenue from trading and investment banking declined.

Kyle Bass: 40-50% Chance of Brief U.S. Recession

Kyle Bass, the famed hedge fund manager, who successfully called the subprime crisis in 2008 before it nearly destroyed the U.S. financial system, is climbing a new wall of worry; Asia’s impact on the U.S.

Better Buy: Cisco Systems, Inc. vs. Oracle

Like many tech industry titans, Cisco 's new-ish CEO Chuck Robbins is focused on transforming the networking giant from an enterprise-based, "old-school" solutions provider into a cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) leader.

IMF Cuts Global Growth Forecast Again

The International Monetary Fund cut its global growth forecast for the fourth time in the past year on Tuesday, citing China's slowdown, persistently low oil prices and chronic weakness in advanced economies.

Fmr. UBS Chairman: Leverage is the Enemy

Former UBS chairman Joe Grano, told FOX Business Network’s Neil Cavuto that while the bank’s fine is just a drop in its bucket, the fact that it is paying and another entity is getting off the hook without much punishment of its own is telling.

Oil Hits 4-Month High on Doha Meeting Hopes

Brent crude prices touched a four-month high on Monday as a rally in wider commodities markets encouraged buying ahead of a meeting of oil producers in Doha next Sunday, aimed at freezing current output levels.

Alcoa Stock Can Shine Brighter

Before Alcoa's first-quarter earnings report Monday, the market is still valuing it as a pure commodities play without giving much credit to anything else. That underscores the argument for splitting Alcoa in the first place and suggests the stock is still underappreciated at current levels.

IMF's Lagarde: U.S. Economy 'Not Great'

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is preparing for its spring meeting which gathers the leading economic voices across the globe to discuss the issues and policies impacting the world's financial markets.

Valeant Eyes Shedding Key Assets

In an effort to pay down its massive debt and repair its reputation, bankers say troubled pharmaceutical giant Valeant is 'actively discussing' selling one of its crown jewels.

Why Kate Spade & Company Stock Flew 28.8% in March

Image source: Kate Spade & Company What: Shares of Kate Spade & Company (NYSE: KATE) jumped 28.80% in the month of March,according to data provided by S&PGlobal Market Intelligence , after the luxury apparel specialist reported deceivingly strong fiscal-fourth quarter results.

ConAgra Foods' 3Q Sales Beat Estimates

ConAgra Foods, the maker of Chef Boyardee pasta and Healthy Choice dinners, reported higher-than-expected quarterly sales, helped by strong demand for products it sells to restaurants and other food industry customers.

Why Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. Stock Sank 50% in March

Image source: Celldex Therapeutics, What: Shares of Celldex Therapeutics ,, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development cancer immunotherapies plummeted 49.6% in March, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence , after its lead candidate flopped in a pivotal phase 3 trial.

Why Yum! Brands, Inc. Stock Jumped 12.9% in March

$1 grilled breakfast burritos are among Taco Bell's new breakfast options, Image source: Yum! Brands What: Shares of Yum! Brands, jumped 12.9% in the month of March,according to data provided by S&PGlobal Market Intelligence , thanks to a combination of the broader market climbing and the company's new breakfast menu strategy at Taco Bell.

Corcept Therapeutics Rose 18% in March. Here's Why.

Image Source: Corcept Therapeutics What: Shares of Corcept Therapeutics , small-cap biopharma focused on developing products for the metabolic, psychiatric, and oncologic markets, gained more than 18% in March, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence .

ETFs For a Dovish Fed

The Federal Reserve is slated to release minutes of last month's meeting today, clarifying the central bank's decision to stand pat on interest rates.

U.S. to Challenge Halliburton Deal

The Justice Department is preparing to file a lawsuit to block a proposed merger between Halliburton and Baker Hughes, the most recent sign that a takeover boom is meeting resistance from U.S. regulators and antitrust enforcers.

Pfizer Terminates Proposed Allergan Takeover

U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and Ireland-based Allergan formally announced the scrapping of their $160 billion merger on Wednesday, in a big win for President Barack Obama who has been pushing to curb tax-slashing "inversion" deals.

Better Buy: Sierra Wireless vs. Cisco

Image sources: Cisco Systems, Sierra Wireless, With a world of opportunities for tech companies to find growth today, arguably none are greater than the Internet of Things (IoT) -- that is, the trend of adding Internet connectivity to otherwise ordinary things in our lives.

Can Chipotle Drink Its Way to a Turnaround?

Everyone may be wondering if new food safety measures or even the potential push into gourmet burgers as a fourth concept holds the key to a revival for Chipotle Mexican Grill , but the real spike could be brewing in a massive upgrade to its beverage offerings.

Is Lannett Company Inc. Stock a Buy Right Now?

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons Little has gone right for Lannett Company since it announced in early November -- just weeks ahead of completing its purchase of fellow generic drugmaker Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals -- that Kremers was losing a key customer that accounted for nearly a fifth of its annual sales.

Wall St Lower After Jobs Data

U.S. stocks opened lower on Friday after data showed employers added more jobs than expected in March, a sign of economic resilience that could encourage the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year.

Wall St Set For Lower Open After March Payrolls Data

Wall Street was set to open lower on Friday after a non-farm payrolls report showed employers added more jobs than expected in March, a sign of economic resilience that could allow the Federal Reserve to gradually raise interest rates this year.

Better Buy: GoPro vs. Alphabet

For any investor with money to put to work in the stock market, often the hardest part is deciding between seemingly disparate portfolio candidates with which you want to achieve the same goal: That is, to beat the broader market.

Gold Shines Bright: Biggest Quarterly Jump in 30-Years

Gold rose on Thursday as a drop in equities boosted its appeal as an alternative asset, heading for its biggest quarterly gain in nearly 30 years as expectations that the Federal Reserve would press ahead with interest rate hikes receded.

Yellen Caution Lifts Global Stocks

Stocks and commodities rallied while the dollar extended losses Wednesday as Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen's cautious stance on raising U.S. interest rates propelled risky assets around the world.

Boeing to Cut More Than 4,500 Jobs

Boeing will eliminate about 4,000 jobs in its commercial airplanes division by the middle of this year and another roughly 550 jobs in a division that conducts flight and lab tests, company spokespeople told Reuters.

General Mills Profit Beats on Cost Cutting

General Mills, the maker of Cheerios cereal and Yoplait yogurt, reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, as its cost-cutting programs helped reduce the impact of weaker sales in the United States.

Payments Firm Square Notes Path To Profit

Square, the mobile payments company co-founded and run by Twitter Inc Chief Executive Jack Dorsey, reported a 49.2 percent jump in revenue in its first quarterly results since going public in November.

Box Shares Rise On Strong Results

Box, which provides file storage and collaboration services in the cloud, said it expected sales to grow by 30% over the next year, despite stiff competition from rivals Microsoft and Dropbox.

Staples Profit Misses Views

Staples. swung to a fourth-quarter profit, though its results came in below Wall Street views, as sales declined while the company continues to seeks regulatory approval for its deal to buy rival Office Depot Inc.

Abercrombie & Fitch's 4Q Sales Rise

Teen apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch reported a surprise increase in quarterly sales at established stores due to strong demand for its Hollister branded clothing in the holiday shopping season.

AutoZone Profit Grows 8%

AutoZone. reported its profit grew 8% and easily topped expectations in its latest quarter as sales climbed and the company continued to rework its distribution process.

J.C. Penney's 4Q Results Top Expectations

Department store operator J.C. Penney reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by strong holiday sales and fewer discounts, sending its shares up 10 percent in premarket trading on Friday.

Sears Holdings Deepens Loss

Sears Holdings reported an adjusted 4Q loss of $1.70 per share, larger than the estimate for a loss of $1.36. Revenue for the company came in at $7.3 billion, beating the estimate for $7.25 billion.

Target Swings to a Profit

Target swung to a fourth-quarter profit, helped by a gain on the sale of its pharmacy and clinic businesses and lower overhead expenses, as the retailer continues to revamp its merchandise and attract more customers.

Lowe's Full-Year Sales Forecast Tops Estimates

Lowe's, the world's No.2 home improvement chain by market share, reported a better-than-expected rise in quarterly sales and forecast 2016 sales above estimates as it benefits from a steady improvement in the U.S. housing market.

Pimco Boosts Allianz Earnings

Germany's Allianz raised its full-year dividend after fourth-quarter profit jumped 16%, partly on the improved performance of its Pacific Investment Management Co. asset-management business.

Wal-Mart Lowers Sales Outlook

Dow component Wal-Mart reported an adjusted 4Q profit of $1.49 per share, topping the estimate for $1.46. Revenue of $129.67 billion, missed the estimate for $130.95 billion.

Apple Leads Bond Market Back to Life

Apple was leading a slate of new bond sales on Tuesday after a nearly two-week lull, suggesting investors are still eager to lend to big blue-chip companies despite concerns that a global recession could be developing.

Burger King/Tim Hortons Owner Posts 4Q Profit

Restaurant Brands International, the owner of Burger King and Tim Hortons, reported a fourth-quarter profit, compared with a loss a year earlier, helped by strong demand for products such as Nutella pockets, grilled wraps and chicken fries.

Boeing Shares Fall on Probe Report

Boeing Co. shares plunged Thursday following a media report that the Securities and Exchange Commission is probing the aerospace group's accounting methods on two of its jetliner programs.

Nokia Posts Strong Network Result

Finland's Nokia reported better-than-expected profits for its mainstay telecom network equipment business but warned that rollouts for new mobile networks would start to slow this year in its most vital market China.

Rpt: Credit Suisse's Thiam Wants His Bonus Cut Up to 50%

Credit Suisse Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam has asked the bank's board to cut his 2015 bonus by between 25 percent and 50 percent, the Financial Times reported on Monday, after the bank posted a 2.94 billion Swiss franc ($2.96 billion) loss last year.

ConocoPhillips 4Q Loss, Slashes Dividend

ConocoPhillips reported a much bigger quarterly loss, hurt by impairment charges, and slashed its dividend as the relentless fall in crude oil prices takes a toll on the largest U.S. independent oil and gas company.

Merck Revenue and Profit Falls

Merck posted declines in sales and profit as the pharmaceutical giant gave revenue projections below analyst forecasts and earnings expectations on the lower end of them.

ExxonMobil's 4Q Earnings Tumble 58%

Dow component ExxonMobil reported a 4Q profit of $0.67 per share, topping the estimate for $0.63. Revenue for the company came in at $59.81 billion, also beating the estimate for $51.35 billion.

United Parcel Service's 4Q Profit Surges

United Parcel reported an adjusted 4Q profit of $1.57 per share, topping the estimate for $1.42. Revenue for the package delivery company came in at $16.05 billion, missing the estimate for $16.27 billion.

Pfizer's 4Q Earnings Beat, Outlook Misses

Dow component Pfizer reported an adjusted 4Q profit of $0.53 per share, topping the estimate for $0.52. Revenue for the drugmaker came in at $14 billion, also beating the estimate for $13.56 billion.

BP Reports Annual Loss, Cuts More Jobs

BP slumped to its worst annual loss in over 20 years in 2015, the British oil and gas company announced on Tuesday, and said it would cut thousands more jobs in the face of a deep rout in oil prices.

Caterpillar Profit Beats on Cost-Cutting

Dow component Caterpillar reported an adjusted 4Q profit of $0.74 per share, topping the estimate for $0.69. Revenue for the heavy equipment company came in at $11.03 billion, missing the estimate for $11.4 billion.

DuPont Forecasts Higher 2016 Earnings

Chemicals and seed producer DuPont forecast higher 2016 earnings, helped by aggressive cost-cutting to offset continued pressure from a strong dollar and weakness in its farm business.

Johnson Controls to Merge with Tyco

Johnson Controls, a maker of car batteries and heating and ventilation equipment, said on Monday it would merge with Ireland-based fire protection and security systems maker Tyco International.

United Continental Profit Misses

United Continental Holdings reported fourth-quarter profit below analysts' expectations and said it expects unit revenue to keep sinking as sharply lower oil prices hurt sales to energy clients around the airline's Houston hub.

Verizon 4Q Revenue Rises 3.2%

Verizon Communications, the No. 1 U.S. wireless carrier by subscribers, reported a 3.2 percent increase in quarterly revenue as heavy promotions helped it to check customer defections.

Travelers' 4Q Earnings Beat Estimates

Property and casualty insurer Travelers' quarterly profit fell 16.6 percent as its underwriting gains declined and the company earned less from its fixed income and energy investments.

Stocks Dive: Wrapping Up a Week of Tumult

Stocks plunged again for the second-straight week as the major averages on Wall Street officially entered correction territory. These are the biggest trends you might have missed this week in the markets.

FOXBusiness.com's Biggest 2015 Hits

There was no shortage of news this year, even in the doldrums of summer: Whether it was the Greek financial crisis, speculation over China’s economic demise, the first interest rate hike in nearly a decade or the chaos of the campaign trail as the candidates vie for the White House in 2016. As 2015 winds down, we wanted to thank our readers for their interest and share some of our most read stories over the past year.   Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!   The FOXBusiness.com Team

Is Apple Ripe for 2016 Gains?

It appears there’s no end to Apple's strong presence when it comes to phones, tablets, music streaming, etc. But with its shares trading in near "bear-market" range from its early year highs,  what will 2016 look like for this Cupertino California-based behemoth?

Nike Beats 2Q EPS Estimates

The athletic wear giant reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 90 cents, topping expectations by four cents. Revenue slightly missed views.

General Mills Cuts Full-Year Sales Forecast

General Mills cut its full-year sales forecast and reported its second straight fall in quarterly sales, hurt by a strong dollar and weak demand for its snacks and baking products in the United States, its biggest market.

FedEx Profit Tops Expectations

FDX EarningsFedEx Corp. said profit rose 4.2% in its latest quarter, with adjusted profit topping Wall Street's expectations, and the company reaffirmed its full-year earnings guidance.

Goldman Sachs’ Stock Plays for Paris Climate Deal

Officials from countries around the world recently signed off on the most important climate agreement since the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. Wall Street is weighing in, with Goldman Sachs saying that it sees “the deal as a boost to the low carbon economy, now a fast-growing $600 billion-plus market.”

Chipotle Gets EPS Downgrade From Goldman Sachs

Shares in Chipotle Mexican Grill are in a downdraft mode after the restaurant chain was hit with a series of cuts in Wall Street stock price targets and downgrades due to the e. coli outbreak at some of its stores. And now Goldman Sachs is warning its problems are far from over.

Big Lots Narrows Loss

Big Lots said it narrowed its loss in the third quarter, as revenue grew modestly, and raised the lower end of its guidance for the year.

Anti-Hack Chip Cards Still AWOL At Major Retailers

Remember the big hue and cry in Congress and in the retail industry for new computer chip credit cards to ward off hackers? While industry studies estimate three in five consumers now have them, major retailers still haven't upgraded to accept them.

Computer Sciences Spins Off into 2 Separate Companies

Computer Sciences Corp. is trading as two separate companies Monday after the spinoff of its public-sector company as CSRA Inc. CSRA was added to the S&P 500 after the close of trading on Nov. 27, replacing Computer Sciences, which trades under "CSC."

Disney Shares Drop As ESPN Subscriber Base Sags

Shares of Disney were by far the biggest decliner on the Dow Friday after the company said ESPN saw a 3.2% drop in subscribers from the previous fiscal year in a market where viewers are migrating to newer forms of coverage.

It's Primetime for Amazon

The online retailer started celebrating the holiday shopping season long before the Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend. It's a prime year for the company's shareholders as the stock could have more room to run  higher.

Financial Reasons to Be Thankful For This Year

Thanksgiving is the time of year we gather around the dinner table to feast on turkey, stuffing and apple pie. Amidst the feast we share with family and friends, it is also time to reflect on the blessings in our lives and what we are thankful for.

Tyson Foods 4Q Sales Rise 4%

Tyson Foods reported a 4 percent rise in quarterly sales, helped by higher demand for chicken and as the Hillshire Brands acquisition boosted sales of prepared foods.

Keurig Net Income Drops but Revenue Tops Estimates

Keurig Green Mountain Inc, the maker of K-Cup single-serve coffee pods, posted a drop in net income for the fiscal fourth quarter, but topped earnings per share and revenue estimates, sending shares up 20% as the company has sought to cut costs and rebound from recent sales declines of its pods and brewers.

Lumber Liquidators Names New CEO

Struggling hardwood flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators Holdings appointed board member John Presley chief executive to replace founder and acting CEO Thomas Sullivan.

U.S. Auto Sales Jump in October

Auto makers in the U.S. said car sales rose by a double-digit percentage in October, driven by the month having five weekends and continued strong demand for larger vehicles.

Exxon Results Slide Less Than Expected

Exxon Mobil Corp. said revenue and profit slid in its third quarter as commodity prices tumbled, but results came in above Wall Street expectations as the largest U.S. oil company cut back on spending.

Valeant to Sever Ties With Philidor

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. on Friday said it was severing all ties with mail-order pharmacy Philidor Rx Services, LLC, which will shut down operations as soon as possible.

EA Results Lifted by Sports Games

Electronic Arts Inc. raised its earnings outlook for the second time in as many quarters as Wall Street and videogame players alike await the release of the company's potential blockbuster: "Star Wars Battlefront."

LinkedIn Results Top Expectations

LinkedIn Corp. reported a wider third-quarter loss reflecting higher expenses as the professional network retools its business—but shares climbed after hours as revenue and adjusted profit topped Wall Street's expectations.

Homebuilder Stocks Take Hit

All is not well in the land of homebuilders. The National Association of Realtors® pending home sales index fell 2.3% to a seasonally adjusted reading of 106.8 in September, down from 109.3 in August.

Amgen Boosts Outlook as Profit Rises 50%

Amgen Inc. raised its 2015 guidance as the biotechnology company reported that its third-quarter earnings rose 50% on stronger revenue led by Enbrel and other key drugs.

Ford Motor Reports Higher 3Q Profit

Ford reported an adjusted 3Q profit of $0.45 per share, missing the estimate for $0.46. Revenue for the automaker came in at $38.1 billion, beating the estimate for $35.06 billion.

Microsoft Shares Jump on Fiscal 1Q Beat

The tech titan reported adjusted fiscal first-quarter profits per share of 67 cents, topping expectations for 59 cents. Revenue came in at $21.7 billion, also beating forecasts for $21.02 billion. 

How to Time a Market Correction

In due course, markets can, do, and will correct. By their very nature, corrections will test patience and trick emotions, tearing the most stalwart investment scheme and shredding it to ribbons.

eBay Reveals 3Q Earnings Beat

The e-commerce giant reported third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 43 cents, exceeding expectations by three cents. Revenue of $2.10 billion surpassed views for $2.094 billion.

'Fed Fatigue' Has Set In

Markets are taking a pause from basing every move on the latest rhetoric out of the Fed regarding the timing of the first interest rate hike in nearly a decade.

Goldman’s Wall of Worry for Stocks

The stocks team at Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is not as optimistic on U.S. stocks as they were just three months ago and have cut their 2015 growth expectations for the S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY). After sifting through the firm’s 24 page research note (excluding the standard disclosures) its clear some of the global risks investors are well aware of are becoming more serious.  

Carly Fiorina's Track Record at HP

Carly Fiorina is facing a media blitz from critics, attacking her defense of her record at Hewlett-Packard at the latest GOP debates. But the track record is more nuanced than the critics let on.

Lennar, Atmel, Denbury, Weatherford and GoPro are big market movers

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Monday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE Lennar Corp., down 16 cents to $51.59 The homebuilder reported a boost in fiscal third-quarter profit, with earnings and revenue beating Wall Street expectations.

Fed Caution Starting to Weigh on Investors

One takeaway is that the Fed is still activing as if the economy is in deep recovery mode, but U.S. economic data has suggested otherwise. Now the Fed’s cautious pessimism is apparently starting to weigh on investors.

Chipotle Fight Escalates

The creators of a scathing new attack ad against Chipotle are now themselves under attack. At the heart of the controversy is a new print ad campaign from the Center for Consumer Freedom. 

The Market isn’t Strengthening any Time Soon

A few weeks ago, I noted the long – very long! – period of congestion would almost have to be broken with a major move.  I didn’t know the direction, but was confident of the ferocity.

Invest in Companies that Only Sell in the U.S.?

Many believe investors should look for companies that derive the majority of their sales in the U.S., as fundamentals appear to be heading in the right direction for those companies and the American economy has showed signs of strength.

When does a stock market 'correction' become a 'bear' market? Here's what to look for

The stock market's sharp downturn in recent weeks has pulled the three major stocks indexes into what is known as a "correction." But when does a market correction effectively end a bull market and usher in a full-blown bear market? Here are some common questions asked about bear markets, corrections and what they mean to average investors: ___ HOW IS A BEAR MARKET DIFFERENT FROM A MARKET CORRECTION? A correction is a Wall Street term for when an index like the Standard & Poor's 500 index, the Dow Jones industrial average, or even an individual stock, falls 10 percent or more from a recent high.

Sculley: Apple Will ‘Reinvent Television’

Former Apple CEO John Sculley predicted that Apple will “reinvent television,” in an interview with FOXBusiness.com. He also voiced optimism about Apple Pay and explained why he does not wear an Apple Watch. 

Sculley's Obi Unveils New Smartphones

Obi Worldphone announced two smartphones on Wednesday, targeting fast growing markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.  Former Apple CEO John Sculley co-founded Obi Worldphone and told FOXBusiness.com that he sees opportunity in the competitive smartphone landscape

Brown-Forman posts profit of $156 million in 1st quarter

Brown-Forman Corp., the producer of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, said Wednesday that its first-quarter net income rose 4 percent, driven by sales growth across much of its spirits lineup to overcome a negative impact from foreign exchange.

Will Market Volatility Impact IPOs?

The Dow is in midst of its most volatile week in history, as concerns over China continue to shake investor sentiment. With two averages in correction territory, some wonder if companies will wait to go public.

Hospira, AGL, Chevron, Epizyme and Yahoo are big market movers

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Monday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE Hospira Inc., up 34 cents to $89.85 Pfizer Inc. received regulatory clearance to move forward with its $15.23 billion buyout of the injectable drug device maker.

Global fears, domestic calm may split week

The steep and accelerating selloff that pushed the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index into its worst week in almost four years may say more about the outlook for emerging markets than the U.S. companies in the S&P, fund managers and analysts say.

Valenat, NetApp, Stage Stores, Kirkland's and Buckle are big market movers

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., down $15.85 to $229.06 The drug developer will pay about $1 billion to buy Sprout Pharmaceuticals, which makes the first women's libido drug, Addyi.

Twitter Tumbles To Record Low

Twitter shares tumbled 5.8% Thursday and closed at $26, a record low for the social media company. It’s also the same level that it priced its November 2013 IPO.

Is Apple Music a Dud?

In June, Apple released a service to compete with Spotify called Apple Music and offered three-month free trials, but a survey from MusicWatch said that about half (or 48%) of the users have already discontinued the service. 

Liberty-Owned QVC Acquires Zulily for $2.4B

Liberty Interactive Corporation announced Monday that it had entered an agreement to purchase e-commerce brand Zulily for $2.4 billion, in a cash and stock deal. The acquisition will be attributed to Liberty’s QVC Group, the shopping television channel.

Is There a Big Market Move Ahead?

Months of congestion are usually resolved with a splash. So, as soon as we see a break of either support or resistance, look for the subsequent move to be big.

China Damage Spreading

Wall Street is paying close attention to how China's currency drop could sting major U.S.firms including Apple, Qualcomm, and Yum Brands.

The Cleanup in the Checkout Aisle

The Center for Science in the Public Interest says Bed, Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Target, supermarkets and all convenience stores like 7-11 must stop displaying junk food items at checkout aisles because it induces obesity and diseases like diabetes. Instead, they must put fruit, vegetables and granola bars in their checkout aisles.

Apple May Kill Voicemail As We Know It

Apple is working on a service that will use Siri to transcribe voicemails, according to a report from Business Insider. Launching in 2016, the feature will use iCloud to send the text of voice messages to recipients, meaning users will no longer need to listen to the audio recording.

High-Priced Trucks Propel Ford

Ford has benefited from consumer appetite for higher-priced trucks and sport-utility vehicles, which propelled the automaker to a record second-quarter profit in North America.

Best Buy to Sell Apple Watch

The Apple Watch will be available at select Best Buy stores next month, expanding its retail availability beyond Apple stores and high-end boutiques. On August 7, about 100 Best Buy stores will carry the watch and it will also be available on BestBuy.com.

Grasso to FBN: Regulations Created Market 'Free for All'

The cost of completing a stock trade may be cheaper than it was 10 years ago, but investors may not be getting the best price available, former New York Stock Exchange Chairman Richard Grasso told FOX Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo.

Apple Has Worst Day In 18 Months

Apple saw its shares fall 4.2%to $125  on Wednesday, the worst drop the company has seen since January 2014. Apple missed analyst expectations with its third quarter iPhone sales, gave a weak revenue forecast, and remained cagey about Apple Watch sales.

Record Stock Buybacks Generate Backlash

The practice has caught the attention of high-profile politicians who argue buybacks are merely another way for already-wealthy corporate insiders to further enrich themselves.    

Correction: NYSE Outage Q&A

In a story July 8 about an outage at the New York Stock Exchange, The Associated Press reported erroneously that United Continental is the biggest U.S. airline.

United Continental, Container Store, Haverty, Perficient and Sinopec are big market movers

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL), down $1.49 to $52.82 All of the airline's flights in the U.S. were temporarily grounded because of computer problems affecting "network connectivity." The Container Store Group Inc. (TCS), up 43 cents to $17.93 The storage products retailer reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter profit, but revenue fell short of forecasts.

Leon Cooperman: Stocks Still Attractive

Omega Advisors Chair and CEO Leon Cooperman told FOX Business Network’s Neil Cavuto that he doesn’t expect a bear market anytime soon – and he sees no signs that the U.S. is headed for a recession.

Business Highlights

___ After vote win, Greek leaders face pressure to restart talks ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Despite triumphing in a popular vote against austerity, Greece's leaders Monday faced the urgent need to heal ties with European creditors and reach a financial rescue deal to prevent it from falling out of the euro — possibly within days.

Greece 'Chaos' Opens Buying Opportunity

The ongoing Greece debt drama isn’t likely to cause a contagion throughout Europe and overseas. Nor is it viewed as a likely catalyst for a prolonged stock market tailspin.

Business Highlights

___ US probing possible airline collusion that kept fares high WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is investigating possible collusion among major airlines to limit available seats, which keeps airfares high, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press.

ACE, Dycom, Chemours, Kraft and Melco are big market movers

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE ACE Ltd., up 81 cents to $102.49 The insurance company is buying The Chubb Corp. in a $28.3 billion cash-and-stock deal to boost its international presence.

MBIA, AMAG, Sysco, Vitae and National Bank of Greece are big market movers

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Monday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE MBIA Inc., down $1.95 to $6.37 The financial guarantee insurance company's shares fell as Puerto Rico's governor warns that the island can't pay its $72 billion public debt.

Staying Bullish in a Sideways Market

It looks like the market has formed an ascending triangle. That’s a good sign, as it’s generally a pause before a further move north. 'Generally,' not always, but I’m more bullish than bearish right now.

Is Your Portfolio Stuck On Pause?

Is your portfolio stuck on pause? Unless you put everything in Netflix, prepare to be underwhelmed with your next brokerage statement.

Men's Wearhouse, Hess, Box, Krispy Kreme and Lululemon are big market movers

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE The Men's Wearhouse Inc. (MW), up $3.32 to $61.85 The menswear retail chain reported better-than-expected first-quarter profit and will run tuxedo rental shops in Macy's stores.

Keep an Eye on Adobe

For whatever reason, Adobe Systems rarely appears on my “buy screen.” It should, as it’s a solid performer.

The Magic NASDAQ Record Number: 6,941

The Nasdaq has surpassed the psychologically important dotcom record, but it would have to rise another 36% to 6,941 to truly be in record territory, taking into consideration inflation and the drop in the value of the dollar since 2000.

Should New Highs Ignite Caution?

I think making a new high is a good thing, but is it time to be cautious? Also this week, we take a look at Comcast and Anheuser Busch Inbev.

The Next Bubble Is A Matter of If Not When

The question now is not so much if but when the next bubble will inflate and burst, and what role if any the Fed will play in warning investors that the next financial calamity is lurking around the corner.

Raymond James analyst says Apple Watch is a 'risk,' downgrades shares with stock near highs

As consumers trekked to Apple stores to try on the company's smartwatch for the first time, a Raymond James analyst downgraded shares of the tech giant, saying its first product launch under CEO Tim Cook poses "more risk than reward." Analyst Tavis McCourt downgraded the shares to "Market Perform" from "Outperform," saying fiscal 2016 is shaping up to be difficult year for the company compared to this year.

Calling for Investors to be Patient

Portfolio not doing much this year? Remember, most stocks act just like the market. So don’t worry: when the market picks up, so will your holdings.

Macerich, Sears, Dyax, UTI Worldwide and Ford are big market movers

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE The Macerich Co. (MAC), down $5.60 to $78.73 Simon Property Group called off its hostile $16.8 billion takeover bid for the mall operator after it was unanimously rejected.

Stocks Get a Dose of March Madness

If there was a silver lining to an ugly week, it was the S&P 500 finding support at the former March low. Maybe the index can build from there, turning April sweet.

Are Tech Stocks Back?

The Nasdaq put together a pretty great week with new all-time highs. Does that mean tech is dominating again?

Money & Markets Extra Digest

Money & Markets Extra For the week ending Saturday, March 21, 2015 MONEY MATTERS-SAVINGS ON AUTOPILOT Sit back, relax, and save some money.

Time to Buy Apple, Herbalife?

Right now the bears are feasting. But one good thing about this selloff is that it lets some of the favorites come back to a low-risk buying area. Plus, don’t count out Herbalife.